Cambridge IAL English Language case studies
Cambridge IAL English Language · Put your knowledge to work in context.
Cambridge International AS & A Level English Language (9093) is a Cambridge Advanced qualification for learners who want to study English language and how it is used in communication. According to Cambridge International, the syllabus encourages learners to respond critically to a wide variety of texts in a range of forms, styles and contexts, and it promotes skills of communication, reading, research and analysis. The Cambridge IAL English Language case studies are 5 cases and about 3,175 words.
1Choosing the productive comparison in a timed Paper 1 response
Amira is preparing a comparison of two texts on the same local issue: a 450-word blog post by a travel writer describing 'the morning the beach disappeared under selfie sticks', and a 300-word council press release headed 'New summer visitor cap approved'. The blog opens with a first-person anecdote about buying an ice cream, uses direct address ('you can't move for camper vans'), hyperbole and a mocking nickname for tourists.
699 words, about 3 min2Turning a rant into a directed letter for Paper 2
Jonah, a Year 12 candidate, has 50 minutes to write a 600-word directed response for Paper 2. The task: 'A local charity has proposed converting a disused railway shed into a youth music studio.
659 words, about 3 min3Analysing hedges and reformulation in a spoken transcript
Ravi is analysing a transcript of two undergraduates planning a group presentation. The extract is 18 turns long.
650 words, about 3 min4Evaluating a global English case study in Paper 4
Priya is writing a Paper 4 essay on the question 'English as a global lingua franca makes international business communication fairer.' She wants to use a case study of a Japanese pharmaceutical company that made English its official internal language. In her notes: meetings moved from Japanese to English; 70% of staff reported increased anxiety about speaking; employees with overseas experience were promoted faster; the company introduced a 'plain English' style guide; some teams continued using Japanese in informal decisions.
577 words, about 3 min5Separating rule formation from imitation in a child language recording
Marcus is analysing a 10-minute recording of his niece, aged 2 years 6 months, playing with a parent. The transcript contains: 'I runned to the park'; 'teddy falled down'; 'more juice'; 'no nap, no nap'; 'Mummy sock on'; 'what that is?'; and a stretch where the child repeats 'big red bus' after the parent says it.
590 words, about 3 min